AAP accuses BJP govt of misusing Section 39A for land conversions

Margao: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa president Valmiki Naik on Monday accused BJP govt of facilitating the “large-scale destruction” of Goa’s land through Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, alleging that the provision has been used to promote builder-driven development by converting environmentally sensitive areas into settlement zones.

Addressing a press conference, Naik said data showed that nearly 53 lakh sqm of land across Goa had been “unlocked for settlement” under Section 39A, with Pernem taluka emerging as the epicentre of such conversions. He identified Corgao, Sancoale, Old Goa, Parcem and Tivim as the villages recording the highest conversions, claiming that Corgao alone accounted for about 10.5 lakh sqm, followed by Sancoale (7 lakh sqm), Old Goa (4.3 lakh sqm), Parcem (2.8 lakh sqm) and Tivim (2.6 lakh sqm).

Naik said Section 39A was originally introduced to allow minor corrections to zoning maps but is now being used for large-scale land-use changes involving orchard land, no-development slopes and other protected categories. He alleged that applications have been filed for cultivable land, paddy fields, irrigation command areas, forests and water bodies, and claimed that cashew plantations on hill slopes were also among the affected areas.

Highlighting paddy fields as one of the most protected land categories under Regional Plan 2021, Naik alleged that conversion proposals had been submitted for around 4.82 lakh sqm of paddy fields despite restrictions on development.

Naik appealed to voters to bring AAP to power in 2027, promising that an AAP govt would scrap Section 39A within two months and review and revoke approvals granted under the provision.